Ultrasonic transducer and mount

Abstract

The transducer has a metal body with a welding end, an opposite end for supporting a source for causing the body and the welding end to vibrate at ultrasonic frequency for welding purposes and an intermediate mounting structure for supporting the body for welding purpose. The mounting structure may be a cylinder or flange spaced from and surrounding the body with at least two spaced apart spokes connected between the body and the mounting structure.

We claim: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic transducer for welding purposes comprising: a metal body having a welding end, an opposite end for supporting a source for causing said body and said welding end to vibrate at ultrasonic frequency for welding purposes and intermediate mounting means for supporting said body for welding purposes,   said mounting means comprising mounting structure spaced from and surrounding said body and at least two spaced apart spokes connected between said body and said mounting structure for reducing the loss of energy to said mounting structure and increasing the welding efficiency of said transducer.   
     
     
       2. The transducer of claim 1, wherein: as seen from said welding end, the space between said spokes 360° around said body is much greater than the dimensions of said spokes in the 360° view.   
     
     
       3. The transducer of claim 1, wherein: said body has a central axis extending between said welding end and said opposite end,   said spokes extend in a plane transverse to said axis of said body,   each of said spokes has a maximum width in said plane,   the space between said spokes in said plane is much greater than the maximum widths of said spokes in said plane.   
     
     
       4. The transducer of claim 1, wherein: said body has a given length with a central axis extending between said welding end and said opposite end,   said spokes extend in a plane transverse to said axis of said body,   said mounting structure comprises a cylinder extending around said body.   
     
     
       5. The transducer of claim 4, wherein: each of said spokes has a maximum width in said plane,   the space between said spokes in said plane is much greater than the maximum width of said spokes in said plane,   said cylinder has a given length along the length of said body much less than the length of said body,   each of said spokes has a maximum dimension along the length of said body which is much less than the length of said cylinder.   
     
     
       6. The transducer of claim 5, wherein: three spaced apart spokes extend between said body and said cylinder.   
     
     
       7. The transducer of claim 1, wherein: said body has a given length with a central axis extending between said welding end and said opposite end,   said spokes extend in a given plane transverse to said axis of said body,   said mounting structure comprise a thin flange extending in said plane around said body.   
     
     
       8. The transducer of claim 7, wherein: each of said spokes has a maximum width in said plane,   the space between said spokes in said plane is much greater than the maximum widths of said spokes in said plane,   said flange has a given thickness along the length of said body much less than the length of said body,   each of said spokes has a maximum thickness along the length of said body, which is much less than the length of said body.   
     
     
       9. The transducer of claim 7, wherein: two spaced apart spokes extend between said body and said flange.